Free JavaScripts provided
by The JavaScript Source

Lisa Hall's World

Picture of Lisa Hall reading Braille with the Braille Lite 40 note taker/display

Welcome to www.lisa-halls-world.org. Please come back to this site since this is my first home page constantly under development since March 2003. This is the second home for this site and I'm proud of what I have accomplished so far. If you do not wish to hear the midi file while viewing this page, hit the escape key and the music will stop. If you wish to hear the music again, hit the refresh key to reload the page. You will find a biography about myself, some sites to learn about adaptive technology for the blind, some of my favorite links to visit, and many more. If you find any links that is broken, please send me an email so that I can correct these pages.

By way of Introduction, I am a former student of Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB) on which I graduated from their training program on April 10, 1995. Since then, LCB began a partnership with Louisiana Tech University in forming one of a kind training program called The Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (Institute on Blindness) providing professionals in the blindness field new ways of changing what it means to be blind with a positive attitude and self-discovery philosophy. To learn more about its mission and its programs, check it out.

Lisa Hall is President of National Association of Blind Office Professionals (NABOP), a Division of National Federation of the Blind and have been doing this volunteer job since 1996. Before that she was vice president of this organization which began in 1989. In addition, I am a lifetime member of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE THE USE OF BRAILLE, a second Division of the NFB. I am also a member of the National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division. I am assisting them in keeping their web site up to date where possible.

In addition, to my activities in the National Federation of the Blind, I am a member of National Braille Association where I participate in their continuing education professional development conference held twice a year where possible regarding braille transcribing and braille production.

Just recently on November 26, 2007, I was appointed by Clovernook where I work to embark on a new responsibility in representing Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired as BANA REPRESENTATIVE on the Braille Authority of North America (bana) Board. My term began on January 1, 2008 and ends on December 31, 2010. Look for the link near the bottom of this page under the news stories heading for articles and interviews.

To learn many successful activities I have done as a blind person, check out my bio. The link is located in the contents heading near the bottom of the page.

For anyone who is looking for blindness information for specific states such as Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Ohio, please bear with me while I completely move things around on this site. I will be writing pages for each state indicating resources available in their respective states. I will try to make it as comprehensive as it could be. If you know of any organizations not listed here, please let me know by e-mail and I will attempt to add them where possible.

Please note, the poem below comes from North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind's Reaching Out Newsletter 58 December 2003.

Remember Braille Literacy Month

Louis Braille's Birth Date: January 4, 1809

2008 is a brand new year
Full of new hopes, goals, resolutions and cheer.
We all have new birthdays that come without fail,
But in January, let's remember the birth date of Louis Braille.
Louis Braille was starving for information and knowledge
But he could not go to high school or college.
As a young boy, being blind made his future quite dim,
Becoming a street beggar, his only option was grim.
He worked very hard to find a way to fill his need
To communicate with friends, to write and to read,
To keep his own records, to gather information,
To better his chances to get an education.
Louis Braille, in his lifetime, did not have a clue
Of the effect that his code would have on me and on you.
So it is up to us to spread the words far and wide:
The BRAILLE CODE IS HUGE, that cannot be denied.
It helps keep us organized, labeling our things,
Work files, medication, personal belongings.
We can write, we can read books, magazines, a letter,
So great our independence, there's nothing better.
So remember Louis Braille and the code with his name,
As he did benefit, many more can do the same.

Dates to Remember and Celebrate for the months of November 2008 and beyond

November 27, 2008: Thanksgiving Day

December 21, 2008: Chanukah
December 25, 2008: Christmas

January 2009: National Blood Donor Month
January 2009: National Hobby Month
January 2009: Hot Tea Month
January 2009: National Oatmeal Month
January 2009: National Soup Month
January 2009: National Braille Literacy Month
January 1, 2009: New Year's Day
January 4, 2009: Louis Braille's Birthday

To check out other blindness-related conferences and events, select this link.

If you know of any holiday or special events you like to see added to this site, send me an email with the date and name of event. If you know of a URL that would give history information about any of the holidays listed above, send it to me by e-mail so that I can link it on the site. If you know of any blindness or disability-related conferences that will be happening around the United States, send me an email with that information so that I can post it to the web site for viewing.

STATISTICAL INFORMATION REGARDING BLINDNESS, COMPUTER ACCESS, AND EMPLOYMENT

As far as I know of, there are 2 sources or web sites that can give information on number of blind people in the U.S. and the number of people who are employed. You will also find information regarding number of blind people reading braille and a host of other information.

Select Blindness Statistics from American Foundation for the Blind. For more in-depth information regarding Statistics and Sources for Professionals, select this link.

Select this link for statistical information about blindness from National Federation of the Blind.

Organizations of the Blind

There are two consumer state organizations of the Blind affiliated in all 50 states with a national organization. In Texas Contact Tommy Craig, President at (512) 323-5444 for National Federation of the Blind of Texas.

If you are wanting to contact National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, contact Barbara Pierce, President at (440) 775-2216. To learn who to contact in your local area or community within the NFB, select State and Local Organizations or Divisions and Committees.

You can also contact American Council of the Blind of Texas for more information about blindness and its programs it offers to the blind community throughout the state of Texas and the nation.

San Antonio Low Vision Club is a local self-help support organization educating the general public about blindness.

Alamo Council of the Blind is a local chapter of American Council of the Blind. This is a local organization of where you can meet other blind people in the San Antonio community.

Braille Transcribers of Texas is a brand new organization as of February 24, 2004 promoting the use of Braille. It was formed by students in the Braille Transcription Program at Northwest Vista College.

Texas Federation of the Blind is one of the oldest organization of the blind in Texas.

Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) is a national organization primarily for blinded veterans in which their mission states the following goals:

"To promote the welfare of blinded veterans so that, notwithstanding their disabilities, they may take their rightful place in the community and work with their fellow citizens toward the creation of a peaceful world.

"To preserve and strengthen a spirit of fellowship among blinded veterans so that they may give mutual aid and assistance to one another.

"To maintain and extend the institution of American freedom and encourage loyalty to the constitution and laws of the United States and of the states in which they reside."

For other Blinded Veterans Association's regional organizations, blindness organizations, and organizations for disabled veterans, select Related Internet Links for additional resources.

DARS - Division for Blind Services. Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Division for Blind Services (DARS/DBS) was formerly "Texas Commission for the Blind" (TCB) that provides services in the areas of rehabilitation training in the adjustment to blindness skills, educational and vocational training for employment areas of the consumer's choice, deaf-blind services, job placement services, procurement of assistive technology to be used in employment and educational settings, and many other areas. The goal is to help blind Texans gain independence and to participate fully into society whether at work, school, home, or in the community at church, civic clubs, etc.

Lisa Hall would like to give thanks to Division of Blind Services for assisting her in obtaining the following items or services:

Funding for attending Northwest Vista College in order for her to complete her certificate of completion for Textbook Braille Transcriber Program

procurement of funding for purchasing the PacMate, braille display, braille watch, hearing aids, etc.

funding assistance to attend National Braille Association Spring Conference in Dallas, Texas during April 13-16, 2005.

Are you an Orientation and Mobility Specialist, low vision rehabilitation therapist, teacher of the blind in special education, or rehabilitation teacher in a rehabilitation center? If so, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired is the professional organization for you. Texas Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired is the State chapter of A.E.R. This is a wonderful way to network with other professionals in the blindness field who are certified in various areas such as Orientation and Mobility, Low Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, Rehabilitation teaching, etc.

Do you know someone who is blind and needs access to printed information either in braille or recorded format? If so, Talking Book Program - Texas State Library provides materials free of charge and also provides talking book machines for records and audio cassettes at no charge to the user. You can order your materials by calling 1-800-252-9605 toll-free in Texas. You can send an email at tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us. If you have not use their services before, an application available online must be submitted to receive this service. Talking Book Program - Texas State Library is part of National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress Program.

Are you a parent of a blind child who may be struggling in a regular public school? Is your child receiving services in the instruction of braille, cane travel, independent living, and socialization skills? If you are not receiving these types of services for your child, you have a right to request these types of services. Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is the place for your child to go and learn how to use these skills. Your child may spend part of the time in a special school for a couple of years and go back to their local regular public school after obtaining these survival skills. If your child have multiple disabilities, your child may benefit best by being in a residential school such as this. They provide the same academic courses that are provided in public school. They have staff on hand that understands about blindness and the capabilities of the blind. They provide one on one instruction in a small classroom with no more than ten children in a class.

San Antonio Lighthouse is a nonprofit, private organization providing rehabilitation, job opportunities in light manufacturing assembly plant and base service center as well as referral services for blind and visually impaired people in the community. They provide training in the area of computer operation using adaptive technologies using speech, braille, and large print hardware and software methodologies preparing blind individuals to work in clerical positions in competitive employment in the community. They also provide training in the skills of braille, job readiness, orientation and mobility, and independent living. For those never completing a high school diploma, they assist blind individuals to obtain a GED as a replacement for high school diploma.

San Antonio Independent Living Center (SAILS) is a non-profit, federally designated center for Independent Living aimed at those who reside in the Greater San Antonio Area.

San Antonio Independent Living Services have been serving people with disabilities since 1981, almost 25 years now. We are the only federally designated center for independent living in San Antonio. We serve persons with All disABILITIES, not just mentally and physically disabled.

"SAILS programs are governed by people with disABILITIES for people with disABILITIES."

Blind Ambitions Groups was founded in 2003 to assist blind and visually impaired persons to develop their abilities by:

Cooperating with public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services;

Educating and informing blind people and their families about available resources;

Teaching people to advocate for themselves in getting what they need to facilitate a better quality of life;

Assisting sighted family members of recently blinded persons with their own adjustments to make the transition smoother for all people involved;

Networking with others and learning about what products are available that might make their lives easier;

Educating blind and sighted people alike about the capabilities of blind people by providing opportunities to participate in group events, as well as finding Ideas for effectively participating in events in their own communities.

Low Vision Network of Texas (LVNT) is a nonprofit organization linking support groups for the blind and visually impaired throughout Texas. It provides an opportunity for an open exchange of ideas as well as access to resources that will enhance the independent Living and Self-advocacy Skills of individuals with vision loss.

Their goals is to:

Assist existing support groups and clubs to sustain themselves via list serve, leadership training & other methods.

Assist individuals to start new support groups and clubs to program ideas and sources for speakers.

Have an annual conference and training of topics related to promoting independent living and self-advocacy for blind and visually impaired adults.

Provide regional outreach and leadership training opportunities to encourage formation of new support groups and clubs.

The LVNT can help by providing:

Experienced group leaders to facilitate a sharing environment.

A list serves connecting groups and individuals around the state.

If there is no local NFB chapter in your hometown or city in your respective state, contact National Federation of the Blind (NFB). Call the NFB at (410) 659-9314. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES. The ultimate purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is the complete integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality. This objective involves the removal of legal, economic, and social discriminations; the education of the public to new concepts concerning blindness; and the achievement by all blind people of the right to exercise to the fullest their individual talents and capacities. It means the right of the blind to work along with their sighted neighbors in the professions, common callings, skilled trades, and regular occupations.

The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind. Since its beginning in 1940, the NFB has been working toward the ultimate goal of helping blind persons achieve self-confidence and self-respect, and the complete integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality. The National Federation of the Blind is doing this by providing public education about blindness, information and referral services, scholarships, literature and publications about blindness, aids and appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind, advocacy services and protection of civil rights, employment assistance and support services, development and evaluation of technology, and support for blind persons and their families.

In the NFB we say, “The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight, but the misunderstanding and lack of information which exist. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to the level of a physical nuisance.”

The newly blinded person faces difficult adjustments. One of the best medicines is to meet other blind people and learn of the techniques they use. Membership in the NFB provides this common meeting ground and a sense of participation and restoration of confidence. By means of speeches, pamphlets, and radio and TV appearances, members of the NFB strive to educate the public that the blind are normal individuals who can compete on terms of equality. Take time to read What Is the National Federation of the Blind? to learn about its services, programs, and contact information. Together the NFB is changing what it means to be blind.

Also contact American Council of the Blind (ACB). Call (800) 424-8666 or (202) 467-5081.

Purposes: The Council strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people by: serving as a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people.

Great news! Lisa Hall at last found a new job in a new city and new state!

Lisa Hall would like to announce that she have recently found a new job as Braille Proofreader in Cincinnati, Ohio. She will be working for Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired starting July 10, 2006. This is exciting news!

Great News!

Lisa Hall, the creator of this web site have earned a certification in Literary Braille Transcription through National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library of Congress. She had submitted a trial manuscript on March 16, 2004 and followed up on at least 3 calls and discovered on May 12, 2004 that the test was acceptable with a score of 90 out of 100 which is a passing grade. She received her certificate dated April 30, 2004 in the mail on September 3, 2004.

Picture of Lisa Hall marching up from the back near the front of theater for graduation ceremony.

More good news!! Lisa Hall received her graduation book to put her certificate of completion in the Braille Textbook Transcriber program on May 9, 2005 with standing ovation. She would like to thank 2 couples from Grace Baptist Temple and her blind friend Pegie Gonzales for making it possible in sharing the moment of excitement. She thanks Kathy and Russ Wilson and Tom and Diane Dawsey for taking their time out of their busy schedules to do the videoing and photoing of her event. If anyone at NVC or Grace Baptist Temple recognizes that the pictures is not labeled properly, please take the time to send me an email so that I can correct it.

Picture 1 of Lisa marching out.

Lisa Hall received a phone call on Monday evening on April 18, 2005 on an opportunity she could not miss. Sharon Dresser, Coordinator of Services for Special Populations at Northwest Vista College asked her to be part of a team on a contract basis as Independent Consultant for Adaptive Technology in the Student Success Center as part of the Learning Center building. Most of the work in writing policies and procedures and other documentation were done in the home on her own hours. She had meetings with various NVC staff members from different departments on campus where needed for consultation services and to provide suggestions for improving them. Let's wish her success for permanent employment in the future. Congratulations!

Picture 2 of Lisa marching out.

A resume in Microsoft Word is available for anyone to download for review.

Select Ocusource to learn about various resources such as eye doctors, agencies, organizations of the blind, and manufacturers of assistive technology in the blindness field and many other resources on the web.

Access CSUN 2005 audio blog for archive interviews and presentations.

New at last! Braille Transcription and Braille Proofreading as a Viable Career for Blind and Sighted People!

ACBRadio.org is a radio station run by blind people around the country and the world. Select Listen to ACB Radio Mainstream for programming produced by the blind, for the blind. Be sure to select the player of choice on that page before listening. Be sure to select Marlaina - An ACB Radio Main Stream Live call-in show in order to listen. All shows are broadcasted for 24 hours before going into the archive section of ACBRadio. I will be talking about Braille Transcription and Braille Proofreading as a viable career and will answer questions from the audience through the telephone. This will be broadcast live on the Internet at the appropriate times. Don't hesitate to send me an email after viewing this site and listening to the show. I am really excited about the possibilities of what can happen in the blind community. Together we are changing what it means to be blind in the blindness community!

If you want to hear archives of past show, Visit their on-demand section to hear archives of blindness-related computer and technology and many other ACB Radio mainstream shows.

Select Marlaina show #25 to listen to Lisa Hall's interview of October 24, 2004.

Picture of Lisa holding diploma standing next to Sharon Dresser.

News Stories

Lisa Hall was recently featured on a show called Blind Like Me show number 48. I hope you enjoy hearing the interview conducted by Phil Parr the interviewer for the show. I don't remember the date it was originally aired, but I believe it was around June 2004. If you like to hear all archives of previous shows, Select ACB Radio Blind Like Me link. Stay tune for more exciting news and interesting activities for the blind and the braille community.

Read "Blind Students Tackle Dreams" Courtesy of the San Antonio Express News.

Lisa Hall was recently featured in the Northwest Vista College's school newsletter entitled la revista June 17, 2005 (Acrobat Reader .pdf) newsletter. Select this link to read the article from the June 17, 2005 La revista newsletter.

Lisa Hall recently submitted her audio career article to Blind Cool Tech hosted by Larry Skutchan of American Printing House for the Blind. She talked about many jobs she had in various fields over the last 17 years of employment. This article was posted as of October 3, 2005. Select Lisa Hall's Career to hear her story on Blind Cool Tech No. 152. Check out the Braille Proclamation January 2006 page.

On September 14, 2006 Lisa Hall was featured on a show called Eyes on Employment, a radio show which focuses on job fairs, alternative techniques of job searching strategies, etc. You will learn what it takes to succeed in finding employment for a blind person. Select this link to listen to Lisa Hall's interview. To download the show, press right mouse click, select save target as and save it to your hard drive or transfer to an mp3 player to listen to on the go.
For past shows select this link.

Lisa Hall have recently been appointed to represent Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired on the Braille Authority of North America (BANA). The term begins from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010. Read the press release entitled Clovernook announces new BANA representative dated December 10, 2007. This same press release was also published in the Cincinnati Enquirer dated December 29, 2007 and a short story promoting the tour of Clovernook in celebrating Braille Literacy Month and a short interview on my involvement with BANA and promotion of braille literacy dated January 4, 2008.

In addition, Paul Dressell, President of NFB of Cincinnati, a local chapter of National Federation of the Blind, interviewed me on his radio program called "Conversation" heard on January 17, 2008 and was originally recorded on January 5, 2008 at the studio of Cincinnati Association for the Blind's Radio Reading Service which requires a blind or visually impaired person to obtain a special receiver heard on a separate channel.

Press enter or right mouse button to download or listen to the recording of January 17, 2008.

BRAILLE, AUDIO, LARGE PRINT, AND ELECTRONIC PRINTING AND RECORDING RESOURCES

Is your company complying with access to information for your blind employees in accessible formats? If no, consider contacting the following companies listed below. Have you ever had a blind or low vision customer who visit your company ask for materials in accessible formats but did not know where to turn to? What about job applications, memos, employee manuals, brochures, business cards, greeting cards, tactile maps, bookmarks, calendars, textbooks, cookbooks, children's books, educational materials, restaurant menus, bus schedules, newsletters, signage for public access to buildings, and other materials that needs to be available in accessible formats? If you say yes to any of the above 2 questions, consult the braille page link at the bottom of this page for companies who can transcribe materials in a variety of formats such as hardcopy braille, hardcopy large print, audio cassette, computer disk, or digital format such as CD-ROM or emailed to a customer in electronic format of their choice such as Microsoft Word, HTML, accessible PDF, ASCII text format, mp3 format, electronic braille (BRF) format, or DAISY format (NIMAS). Below is a small listing of companies who perform this type of printing and recording production for the blind and print-disabled community.

Contact the following organizations, businesses, or other agencies for quotes on large and small transcription projects for your printing and recording needs for the blind, low vision or print-disabled community: